Survivorship Experiences of Chinese Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Survivors: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background: The number of global hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) survivors is increasing rapidly. Survivors encounter many challenges, but studies regarding survivorship experiences in China are scarce. Objective: This study aimed to explore the survivorship experiences of Chinese patients with hematological cancers after HSCT and to describe the impact of HSCT on survivors’ lives. Methods: Descriptive qualitative research was employed. Purposive sampling was used to recruit HSCT survivors who were treated in Zhejiang Province from June 2021 to June 2022. Audio-recorded semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed via conventional content analysis. Results: Fifteen HSCT survivors aged 18-59 years participated in this study. Four themes and 11 subthemes emerged: (1) transplant being harder than you thought (body function impaired, forced to modify diet, disturbed by survivorship uncertainty), (2) difficulty blending into circles (limited activity space, suffering from discrimination), (3) adjusting value judgment (health being a top priority, contributing to family as much as possible, feeling worthless), and (4) still being the lucky one (recovered better than others, genuine relationships acquired, self-improvement achieved). Conclusion: This study offers insight into subjective survivorship experiences of patients with hematological cancers post-HSCT within a Chinese sociocultural context. It also presents changed perceptions of HSCT, life alterations, adjusted value judgments, and positive self-evaluation since treatment. Implications for Practice: Nurses can provide person-centered survivorship care based on understanding the survivorship experiences and needs of Chinese HSCT survivors. Intervention programs and informational materials should be developed to address difficulties encountered by Chinese HSCT survivors.